Curraheen Princess just gets the nod for favourite backers

The Indaver Ireland Handicap produced a thrilling finish with Curraheen Princess just touching off Only Spoofing by the slimmest of margins at Bellewstown.

The 11/10 favourite made headway under Andy Slattery to challenge the front-running Only Spoofing from the furlong pole and the pair had a battle royal throughout the final furlong.

To the surprise of many Curraheen Princess just got the nod by a nose on the line, with Inishmot Prince keeping on a further length and three-quarters back in third.

The Nicky Stokes-trained mare was following up a recent win at Down Royal and recording her eighth career victory.

Slattery said, “Tom (Egan, owner) was just saying we have a 100 per cent record together this year — it can only go downhill from here!

“She got 6lb for the last day and was carrying a lot of weight. I know it wasn’t pretty but she’s put her head down when it mattered.

“The second horse stays six well and is after slipping down in the ratings a little bit so hopefully the handicapper isn’t too hard on us.

“Hopefully we can get another one out of her.”